Monday, May 20, 2013

Tornado Watches In Effect Until 10pm...

...for southeast Kansas, western Missouri and a large part of central and eastern Oklahoma.  The extreme Northwest corner of Texas, in the Wichtia Falls area, is also included:


Very large hail (baseball size or larger) will be distinct possibility with thunderstorms that form within this area this afternoon and evening.  Tornadoes are also likely with the most organized storms, and one or more strong and/or long track tornadoes are possible.

The watch areas include Wichita Falls, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Joplin, Springfield, Kansas City (although the threat there will only be for the next couple of hours), and the Columbia/Jefferson City area.

Scattered thunderstorms are forecast to develop near the Western edge of the watches during the next 1-2 hours, and move Northeast.  The activity will likely congeal into one or more lines or clusters of storms toward sunset, which could threaten locations to the East of the current watch areas late this evening and into early tonight.  Damaging wind gusts will be the primary threat by that time.

The most dangerous time today will be from 45-60 minutes after any storm develops and matures, through about an hour or so after sunset.  Similar to yesterday, we are likely to see one or more strong, long track tornadoes with these storms, before they begin consolidating into lines or clusters.  Keep a very close eye on the cells that become well organized and remain relatively isolated from the rest of the activity.

Please make sure that you have identified your best sheltering option at home, work, school or recreational locations and be ready to move there quickly if threatening weather is observed or a warning is issued.

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